does bottled bacteria interrupt natural cycle XLM bacteria

[chriss1992]

So when I add fish i usually top off with some XLM from brightwell but i was wondering if that interrupts the tanks natural cycle or existing bacteria?

 

[dankaqua]

So when I add fish i usually top off with some XLM from brightwell but i was wondering if that interrupts the tanks natural cycle or existing bacteria?

I assume you are talking about "MicrōBacter Start XLM"? Typically that product is used to cycle a new tank (empty except for new dead/live rock). But Brightwell does list "when adding new fish" so can't fault that process.

The idea of adding XLM is to increase the population of beneficial bacteria so as to handle the livestock population of the tank. Bacteria numbers tend to match the bio load of the tank (over time) which could be called the "natural cycle". So by adding XLM, you are just (potentially) speeding up that process.

So I'd say that no, adding XLM doesn't "interrupt" the natural cycle. Not that I'm promoting the use of that product.

 

[Victor_C3]

I don’t think it interrupts the cycle, but I do think it’s unnecessary. Years ago, when I last setup a tank, bottled bacteria products didn’t exist. I added fish 1-2 per week in a 30 gallon tank and never saw a problem with any sort of spike.

I don’t think it hurts, but I don’t believe it is necessary.

I’ve heard before that bacteria populations can double in as little as 12 hours.